THUNDER BAY - An awareness campaign started to stand up to racism in the city of Thunder Bay continues to gain support while at the same time supporting those who fight against the stigma of mental health by speaking up.
On Wednesday, Confederation College, the Student Union of Confederation College, and Oshki Anishnawbeg Student Association hosted the fourth annual Stand up and Speak Up Racism and Mental Health Awareness Walk.
The Stand Up walk was started in 2015 by students in the Native Child and Family Worker program at the College. Ashley Nurmela led the initiative as a way of stopping racism in the community.
“It’s really been quite the journey,” she said. “That was my first gauge of racism within this college. I didn’t personally experience any, but I knew people who had. When I started the campaign with my classmates, we had nothing but support within every level of the college. They are continuing to support events like this and do their own and make sure their students are surrounded by a circle of care.”
Last year, the Stand Up walk amalgamated with the Speak Up walk in support of mental health awareness.
“What we realized when we took a look around, both Jodi and I, was there was a need for mental health awareness,” Nurmela said. “The stigma around it is shame, and blame, and guilt and it hinders people from coming forward. So we decided it would be best to put the two together and bring it to the forefront.”
Jodi Connor-Afonso, coordinator of the Speak Up walk, said the SUCCI board wanted to do something to help students who may be suffering with mental health issues such as anxiety or depression.
“Speaking up for mental health and illnesses is really important for our students and the community as well,” she said. “It is a great initiative.”
Connor-Afonso added that mental health and racism can go hand-in-hand, as someone who experiences racism in the community could suffer from mental health issues as a result.
“Hopefully the more we do it, the more people will become more aware and we will start breaking down the stereotypes and breaking down the myths and start debunking them,” Nurmela said.
Since it first began four years ago, the Stand Up and Speak Up Walk has been growing every year. Last year, more than 500 people participated.
“When we first did it, we had a conversation that we were possibly painting targets on our back, and we had a few in the crowd that didn’t agree with what we were saying, and that’s okay, because we had a message as well,” Nurmela said. “For us moving forward with the campaign, it has been truly positive.”
“If you take a look around, there are changes in the city, there are changes within the schools, there are changes in the community, there are changes everywhere.”
